Source: Mapping of Textile Waste Value Chain in India report

India generates around 70.73 lakh tonnes of textile waste annually, highlighting the rising need for stronger recycling systems and circular production practices in the country’s textile industry. These findings were highlighted in a new report titled “Mapping of Textile Waste Value Chain in India”, released by Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh at an event held at Udyog Bhawan.

Speaking at the launch, Singh said India’s textile sector—one of the largest in the world—has significant potential to lead the transition towards sustainable and circular production systems. As the industry continues to expand, he noted, growth must align with sustainability goals.

“The report provides a data-driven blueprint for transforming textile waste into a valuable economic resource,” Singh said, adding that it outlines practical pathways for recycling, upcycling, and resource recovery.
According to the study, 42% of India’s textile waste originates from pre-consumer sources, such as manufacturing waste, while 58% comes from post-consumer disposal. The report estimates that more than 70% of the total textile waste is already recovered and routed into recycling, upcycling, downcycling, or reuse streams.

Recovery rates for pre-consumer waste are particularly high, with around 95% of such waste being recovered, reflecting the strength of recycling networks within the manufacturing value chain.
The report also highlights the spinning sector as a benchmark for closed-loop operations, with nearly all spinning waste reintegrated directly into production. Soft waste generated during spinning is typically reused within the same process due to homogeneous waste streams and established quality standards for recycled inputs.
For post-consumer waste, the study estimates that around 55% is diverted from landfills, largely through an extensive informal collection and sorting network that supports 40–45 lakh livelihoods, many of them women from marginalised communities.
Cluster analysis in the report identifies Panipat as a major hub for mechanical textile recycling, processing waste from several textile clusters across the country. Developing recycling infrastructure across textile hubs could further improve efficiency and enable recycling closer to where waste is generated.

The report projects that India’s textile recycling market could reach $3.5 billion by 2030, with the potential to generate around one lakh new green jobs. While mechanical recycling currently dominates the sector, emerging chemical recycling technologies are gaining attention for enabling fibre recovery at the molecular level and supporting textile-to-textile recycling.
The Ministry of Textiles said the report’s findings are expected to support policy formulation, industry collaboration, and investments aimed at strengthening India’s position as a global hub for circular and sustainable textiles.